artist

art‧ist S3 W2 /ˈɑːtəst, ˈɑːtɪst $ ˈɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑art, ↑artist, ↑artistry; adjective: ↑artistic, ↑arty; adverb: ↑artistically]

1. someone who produces art, especially paintings or drawings:
an exhibition of paintings by local artists ⇨ make-up artist at ↑make-up(1)
2. a professional performer, especially a singer, dancer, or actor:
Many of the artists in the show donated their fee to charity.
3. informal someone who is extremely good at something:
He’s an artist in the kitchen. ⇨ ↑con artist
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ artist someone who produces art, especially paintings or drawings: an exhibition of paintings by 50 contemporary artists | a wildlife artist who specializes in drawing birds
▪ painter someone who paints pictures: the Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer | Sisley was principally a landscape painter.
▪ photographer someone who takes photographs, as an art or as a job: Cartier-Bresson was one of the greatest photographers of all time. | a fashion photographer
▪ potter someone who makes pots or other objects from clay: In Spain, local potters produce ceramics with beautiful brightly-coloured designs.
▪ sculptor someone who makes ↑sculptures (=a work of art that is made from stone, metal, or wood): The museum has several pieces by the great English sculptor, Sir Henry Moore.
▪ performance artist someone who uses acting, dance and other actions to create art that expresses an idea: a one-man show by the French performance artist, Orlan

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

artist

art·ist [artist artists] [ˈɑːtɪst] [ˈɑːrtɪst] noun
1. a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings
• an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists
• a graphic artist
• a make-up artist
• Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.
• In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.

• (figurative) Whoever made this cake is a real artist.

2. (especially BrE ar·tiste [ɑːˈtiːst] ; [ɑːrˈtiːst] ) a professional entertainer such as a singer, a dancer or an actor
• a recording/solo artist
• (especially BrE) Among the artistes appearing on our show tonight we have…
• He was a true artiste: sensitive, dramatic and tragic.
Word Origin:
early 16th cent. (denoting a master of the liberal arts): from French artiste, from Italian artista, from arte ‘art’, from Latin ars, art-.
Thesaurus:
artist noun
1. C
• an exhibition of work by contemporary Danish artists
painter • • sculptor •
a contemporary/talented/famous artist/painter/sculptor
a/an abstract/impressionist/portrait/landscape artist/painter
2. C
• After the duo split up, Kit became a successful solo artist.
performer • • entertainer • • artiste • • musician • • singer • • dancer •
a famous/talented/aspiring artist/performer/entertainer/musician/singer/dancer
Collocations:
Fine arts
Creating art
make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(especially US) in watercolors/on canvas
draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
mix colours/(especially US) colors/pigments/paints
add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(especially US) color/pigment
use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
Describing art
paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
Showing and selling art
commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of sb/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint sth
frame a painting/portrait
hang art/a picture/a painting
display/exhibit modern art/sb's work/a collection/original artwork/ drawings/sculptures/a piece
be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
install/place a sculpture in/at/on sth
erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
hold/host/mount/open/curate/see (especially BrE) an exhibition/(NAmE usually) exhibit
be/go on (BrE) exhibition/(NAmE) exhibit
feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art
Example Bank:
• He is a serious artist, and totally committed to his work.
• In 1942 the city commissioned war artist John Piper to paint its bombed cathedral.
• Local artists are currently exhibiting their work at the gallery.
• Local watercolour artists are currently exhibiting their work in the town hall.
• My husband is a real artist in the kitchen.
• She set up the gallery so that up-and-coming artists could exhibit their work.
• The Blue Note Quartet will be the guest artists tomorrow night.
• The agency began to represent Chinese artists.
• The artists explored common themes.
• The festival featured artists such John Mclaughlin and Russell Malone.
• The festival featured up-and-coming young artists.
• The museum's featured artists include Degas, Cézanne and Renoir.
• a group of artists who specialize in jazz-themed art
• an artist who paints in oils
• an exhibition featuring wildlife artist Emma Gray
• artists who work in different media
• the new artist in residence at the Tate Gallery
• A mime artist's movements must be clear to the audience.
• After the band broke up, Joe relaunched his career as a solo artist.
• Caruso was probably the most popular recording artist of his time.
• Even the most beautiful celebrities need the services of a make-up artist.
• In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.
• Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.

• The advertisement was designed professionally by a graphic artist.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

art

art /ɑːt/ US /ɑːrt/
noun
1 [U] the making of objects, images, music, etc. that are beautiful or that express feelings:
Can television and pop music really be considered art?
I enjoyed the ballet, but it wasn't really great art.

2 [U] the activity of painting, drawing and making sculpture:
Art and English were my best subjects at school.
an art teacher

3 [U] paintings, drawings and sculptures:
The gallery has an excellent collection of modern art.
an exhibition of Native American art
Peggy Guggenheim was one of the twentieth century's great art collectors.
The Frick is an art gallery in New York.

4 [C] an activity through which people express particular ideas:
Drama is an art that is traditionally performed in a theatre.
Do you regard film as entertainment or as an art?
She is doing a course in the performing arts.

5 [C] a skill or special ability:
the art of conversation
Getting him to go out is quite an art (= needs special skill).

artist /ˈɑː.tɪst/ US /ˈɑːr.ţɪst/
noun [C]
1 someone who paints, draws or makes sculptures:
Monet is one of my favourite artists.
Compare artiste.

2 someone who creates things with great skill and imagination:
He described her as one of the greatest film artists of the 20th century.

artistic /ɑːˈtɪs.tɪk/ US /ɑːr-/
adjective
1 [before noun] relating to art:
the artistic director of the theatre
artistic endeavours
a work of artistic merit

2 able to create or enjoy art:
His friends are all artistic - they're painters, musicians and writers.

3 skilfully and attractively made:
That's a very artistic flower arrangement you have there.

artistically /ɑːˈtɪs.tɪ.kli/ US /ɑːr-/
adverb

artistry /ˈɑː.tɪ.stri/ US /ˈɑːr.ţɪ-/
noun [U]
great skill in creating or performing something, such as in writing, music, sport, etc:
You have to admire the artistry of her novels.

the arts plural noun
the making or showing or performance of painting, acting, dancing and music:
More government money is needed for the arts.
public interest in the arts
See also arts.

arty /ˈɑː.ti/ US /ˈɑːr
adjective INFORMAL USUALLY DISAPPROVING
being or wishing to seem very interested in everything connected with art and artists:
She hangs out with a lot of arty types.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

artist

[ɑ͟ː(r)tɪst]
♦♦
artists
1) N-COUNT An artist is someone who draws or paints pictures or creates sculptures as a job or a hobby.
  ...the studio of a great artist...
  Each poster is signed by the artist...
  I'm not a good artist.
2) N-COUNT An artist is a person who creates novels, poems, films, or other things which can be considered as works of art.
  His books are enormously easy to read, yet he is a serious artist...
  Engel is quoted as saying that balanced people do not become artists.
3) N-COUNT An artist is a performer such as a musician, actor, or dancer.
  ...a popular artist who has sold millions of records.
4) N-COUNT: usu with supp If you say that someone is an artist at a particular activity, you mean they are very skilled at it.
  Jack is an outstanding barber, an artist with shears.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

artist

art·ist /ˈɑɚtɪst/ noun, pl -ists [count]
1 : a person who creates art
• the great artists of the Renaissance
• a graphic artist : a person who is skilled at drawing, painting, etc.
• I can't draw at all, but both of my children are very talented artists. [=they draw very well]
2 : a skilled performer
• a jazz artist
• a trapeze artist
• famous recording artists [=singers and musicians who record their music]
3 : a person who is very good at something
• She's an artist in her field. [=she's very good at her job]
• a scam artist